Last year, New Brunswick, Canada experienced a very difficult flu season. However, this year it looks like the flu may hit the city just as hard and starting even earlier! Doctors from the area say that they normally don't notice symptoms or an increase in flu outbreaks until December. This year, starting in August, there have been 42 cases of flu and one reported death. Most of the cases are likely caused by Influenza A, H3N2, and two of the outbreaks were within hospitals after patients with the flu were admitted. A similar virus was reported to be deadly and with severe symptoms earlier this year in both Australia and India making it possible to have spread to Canada.
Despite this potential fear, health officials are still optimistic that vaccination protocols will help to reduce the spread of the virus. The vaccine costs $25 for people between the ages of 18 and 65. It is free for everyone else. So far, over 7,000 have been vaccinated and many others are in line to have their appointments at a variety of available vaccination clinics. Last year about 244,000 vaccines were administered so there is still many people to receive the vaccines. Only time will tell if this virus will spread more quickly or if health officials can vaccinate people in time and stop its spread.
Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/flu-new-brunswick-death-vaccination-1.4422118
-Alexandra
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